Scott to make funding announcement on Wekiwa Springs State Park

Gov. Rick Scott will make a "springs restoration funding announcement" thisafternoon at Wekiwa Springs State Park, according to a release by his office Tuesday night.

It wasn't clear whether the springs funding would involve new or existing sources of money or would apply to just Wekiwa Springs in Orange County or more broadly to the hundreds of springs in Florida that also have seen declines in flow and increases in pollution.

Though Wekiwa Springs and the Wekiva River are some of the most protected water resources in the state, and are one of Central Florida's environmental jewels, the system is ailing from nitrogen pollution. The pollution is attributed to fertilizers, sewage and storm water runoff and is blamed for causing harmful algae growth.

Environmentalists have assailed Scott for neglecting the health of spring and river systems throughout the state.

Charles Lee of Audubon Florida said the governor could to do much to benefit the Wekiva basin by removing 345 acres of conservation land west of the river from a list of parcels statewide recently proposed to be declared surplus and sold.

The governor's announcement is scheduled to occur during a press conference starting at 1 p.m.